Nicole D’Settēmi is a graphic designer, creative artist, writer who has just completed her debut novel Addictarium. She uses her own personal experiences to create a novel that touches base on addiction, love, obsession and sheds light on the government funded recovery programs within New York City. Nicole, a free spirit with a heart of gold, opens her heart for the world to learn the truth.
Never judge a book by its cover…
What inspired you to begin your writing journey?
It’s so hard to pin-point a specific time period, because I can remember being as young as six and writing these little lyrical and philosophical poems. I also feel as though I have always been this restless, nomadic, poetic soul, craving adventure and with an unquenchable thirst for freedom and experience. In my pre-teens poetry helped to nourish me, and by my young adult years I knew that I was an artist. A true artist–not to be confused with a “professional” or “commercial” artist. I was, and I still am, very set on living life on my own terms. I am a contradictory woman, with a flair for turning the ugly things beautiful. So my journey really began as a concept, turning my life into a work of art through writing and any other outlets that I’ve utilized.
Addictarium is your first novel to date, please share with us what it is about and your inspiration for writing it.
After years of experimenting with chemical substances, I became addicted to heroin, and for six years fought the imprisoning constraints that an addiction puts on one. I fled to New York City, when I started going blind due to a fungal infection I caught shooting a bad bag of heroin. When I was released from Bellevue hospital, I was admitted to the notorious therapeutic community, Daytop Village, for “long-term” intensive in-house rehabilitation. After 9 months upstate, in what they referred to as the “militant” or “boot-camp” phase of recovery, I was then planted in the re-entry unit, for another year. That is the year I reflected on primarily, in the book. So many things happened that year, and I received my story.
Addictarium is full of themes, it touches on addiction, on personality disorders, on society’s restraints and awareness, it’s peppered with love and obsession, weaved throughout tales of NYC government-funded recovery programs–therapeutic communities–and the people who are discarded off into these places, units sometimes filled with corruption. It’s about the heroin addict’s struggle also–which is usually a deeply disturbed personality type, both loving and filled with hate, both wanting to save the world and simultaneously despising it. There are sadomasochistic undertones, narcissism and greed, redemption and forgiveness.
Most importantly, there are the wild and unhinged moments of my protagonist’s struggle with sobriety, and her journey in keeping and maintaining that sobriety– in a madhouse. It’s about her desire to want to understand what the word “sobriety,” actually means. She fills herself–this gaping hole that she and so many others, fill–with other temporary “solutions” or really, just smaller, less extreme addictions, than drug abuse–when she stops shooting heroin. So the question for her becomes; are we ever really free of addiction, or do we just replace the primary addiction with the next best thing? Whether it be sex, or pornography, or masturbation, or eating, or starving, cutting, or gambling, or even love.
And for her, that’s what it ultimately comes down to: she really just wants to be able to love and be loved, the one thing all humans crave–acceptance, understanding, whatever other forms of love there are. Of course, she is a misfit, which is ironic because the more we understand about life, the less accepted it seems, we become. Yet, as much as she wants acceptance and love, strangeness is the thing she holds onto to feel opaque, hardened, real. Made up of some type of substance. Otherwise, she feels she is a half-old soul/half-child, and she self destructs from her neurotic and suicide-worshipping behaviors. The interesting thing is she both separates herself from the crowd, and attracts people with this persona–some are mystified by it; by her honesty, by her “darkside”and feelings revolving around control and death-lust–because they can relate. So there are parts of the story where she is jamming acid down her throat and self mutilating, and other parts where she is redeeming herself and her true human nature–meaning the good or “light” part of that nature.
Launching as a self-published author, what do you think your biggest challenge will be?
Separating myself from the stigma of being a “vanity” writer, versus a true writer. I have been writing my whole life, and I have studied all of the greats intensely–Anais Nin, Henry Miller, Dostoevsky, D.H. Lawrence, Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton…the list goes on, and these are the people who made real literature and writing authentic and pure–not made for commercial gain, whether they attained that degree or not. They never sold out, they faced years of adversity, most of them. But they were amazing artists, and I have a true understanding of what it means to be an artistic writer versus a modern author. Commercial writers are obsessed with perfect punctuation and prose most of the time, versus the storytelling process, and reinventing prose/writing styles–and many of these things were approached from a more authentic angle from the greats–they changed the style of writing, rather than conform to what everybody else was doing at the time.
I spent four years working on Addictarium, and editing and proofing it, and then having beta readers and proofreaders do the same. No matter how many times I thought I was done, I found something new to fix, to perfect–and there it is right there; true artists are always obsessed with two things; death and perfection. There is also the marketing aspect–which for me is a good thing on one hand, because I love having full creative control, but dangerous on another, because this is my freshman novel, and mistakes will not be taken lightly.
A surprising fact about you that someone may not know
That’s hard because I am so open and honest about WHO I am. One thing is that I was a straight A-PLUS student up until 14, and then two years into my sophomore year I was expelled due to a vicious rebellion! My REAL education ended there. But I was always highly intelligent and intuitive in many ways, so I studied books, writing, art techniques, about psychology and pharmacology. Eventually I joined an art school and studied photography. Then I took a pharmacology course briefly, just to learn even more. I love learning. If I am offered education or learning tools for free I plan on taking them.
Outside of being a writer you also run a creative design firm, LCDS Creative Services; can you share what services you offer?
- Creative assistance, artistic advisory services, and social media optimization in the following ways:
- Graphic Arts & Content Design
- Web Design
- Web-Shop Design
- Middle-Man Site Construction & Maintenance
- Social Media Site Construction & Maintenance of ALL major networking sites
- Setting up artistic web-shops/branding artists
How do you find balance to be an entrepreneur and writer?
I remind myself that for me, writing will never be about money–I just want to be great. A great writer, a great artist. But, doing graphic arts & other professional work CAN be approached very easily for me as commercial work, and there is no struggle there, because THAT funds the writing projects, which are my everything. I do put the professional paid assignments first, tackle those things in the morning everyday, and as for creative writing–I do it anywhere, any time I have a thought. I’ll scribble on note pads, wrinkled papers, toilet paper! Anything.
What advice would you give to an aspiring creative?
As a “hyper-creative” I would say that if one’s intellect sometimes causes them to stuff their “illogical” creative self away–shove it in some corner of their mind that they don’t entirely have access to, or are uncomfortable tapping into–through fear of being casted as different or unacceptable in society–remember the quote by Anais Nin; Create, rather than destroy. Destruction does nothing for the world. Creativity does everything for it.
How do you, yourself empower women?
I make attempts to stay loyal to my sex. To be aware. Our biggest problem is, unlike men, we fight against each other. Men form unions, brotherhoods. We are so worried–and have been so conditioned–to think that pleasing a man and being held in virtuous regard by man–is our number one role. Even trumping our very own happiness, our kindness, our true nature. I wouldn’t encourage a woman to hinder OR exploit her sexuality for a man. Do it for you, if that’s what YOU want, what makes you feel good, but not for a man. It’s always for men, men, men. I do not dislike “man” but we have to live for our own sex, too.
My best work as an empowering female is to push the limit, cross boundaries–write the way men are allowed to write! Henry Miller used the word C*NT in his books, roughly 456 times! And I’m talking about to describe the female anatomy too; the literal meaning. If he can describe my womanhood with the word c*nt, then surely I should be allowed to do the same, without it being tagged vulgar? I’m raw and honest and I encourage other women to be the same way.
Best marketing advice for a self-published author?
Research, research, research. Utilize other people’s successful marketing advice, but you have to come up with some things on your own, otherwise you will end up lost in the flood. *Tools like Hootsuite are imperative!
How big a role does social media play in your book marketing?
HUGE. I’m so grateful for it now. I use to think; who is going to take a writer seriously who is shoving there SM into newsfeeds every 1.2 seconds? Then, I thought of Anais Nin. How she was so determined to publish her work, as well as Miller’s, that she bought her own printing machines, when their books were rejected, and printed them anyway! I thought; “Anais would utilize this wonderful, free, tool!” –I’d have to be crazy not to. That’s my view now. It’s a huge network out there, but if you work hard you CAN stand out in the crowd!
Top three favorite authors?
It’s so hard to pick a top three, there are multiple writers who have changed my life and approach towards writing and being creative, but if I had to pick I’d choose Anais Nin–who I worship, Chuck Palahniuk, and Sylvia Plath. Sneaking in a fourth/or tying with Chuck, would be Janet Fitch who has only released two books to date, but is a brilliant writer!
A “must read” recommendation?
I’ve got three that changed my life, and writing prose:
The Diary of Anais Nin Volume 1
Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
Oh!–and as for a poem, “Lady Lazarus” by Sylvia Plath.
What’s next for Nicole the author; is there another book coming?
OF COURSE! –I’m already planning a prequel to Addictarium–the year spent upstate, which I reference several times in this novel, and, I’m excited to announce I’m about a third-way through another novel–”Addict Nation,” which is actually nothing like Addictarium or it’s prequel. Those are presented as “fictional memoirs” which I admit are 90% truth, but for the sake of the privacy of family members, as well as considering parts that were embellished, I published them as fictional. Addict Nation is based on numerous events I’ve witnessed, but is completely literary fiction. The weaving of stories, and plot twists and turns are just a whole new and exciting concept. I am also excited to share this: I have a co-author for Addict Nation! Her name is Sara Martin, and she is an amazing unpublished creative writer. I am thrilled to have her assisting with this book in the future. She has fever pitch prose, and her usage of metaphors and symbolism are enviable. I adore her as an artist, and I am thrilled she is writing a part of the book. *Update: Unfortunately, by the time this post was published Sarah Martin was in a tragic accident. Our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.*
Share a quick blurb of Addictarium.
When self-anointed “nomadic, creative spirit,” Danielle Martino finds herself curled in a ball on the cold tile floors of her filthy rank bathroom in the tiny studio she rents with her partner-in-crime, she knows it’s time to quit abusing heroin. Severely impaired from shooting bad dope, she is forced to hitch a greyhound bus to NYC, and to abandon her carefree, American-Bohemian, drug infested lifestyle.
Following her release from Bellevue hospital in Manhattan, she is placed in NYC’s notorious therapeutic community; Safe Haven Village–the quintessential rehab for felons, addicts, homeless patrons, and the mentally ill.
With a facility that closer resembles a homeless shelter or mental ward, this is one girl’s journey towards a healthy recovery, despite all circumstances against her, interlaced with the corruption ignored in New York City government-operated-and-funded drug recovery system(s), and the wounded, vacant, nomadic broken souls, who are dumped in these places, and often forgotten about. This bold and candid story highlights in the starkest of lights, why it is so difficult for addicts to gain the recovery they seek, when they do finally decide to “put the drug down.
Stay connected with Nicole
First, track me and my progress now Twitter. –I make it a point to follow everybody who follows me. Stay tuned for updates on the launching of my website, amazon author’s page and blog, all of which will have access to links to purchase “Addictarium.”
My business/fan-page on Facebook. You can also friend me on my personal Facebook page.
Learn more about Nicole here
https://addictarium.wix.com/home – official Addictarium site!
https://addictarium.wix.com/blogazine – The blogazine is released quarterly on our official site, as a support tool to the book. The blogazine has 4 issues a year revolving around, art, drug recovery, creativity, artistic ambition, drug rehabilitation, and more.
https://lcdscreativeservices.wix.com/home – includes our creative assistance work, the fine arts digital gallery links, the publishing division for Addictarium, and more.
https://lcdscreativeservices.wix.com/ebookcovers
Order an eBook cover for only $99. We underbid every company, and guarantee a $99 cover no matter what!
the VIRGO GIRL 5 THINGS TO ASK:
What would you tell your 21 year-old self?
Oh boy. I want to say I’d tell my 21 year old self to “relax, AND to be careful with the insane nomadic and experimental, partying days,” but if I did that, frankly, I wouldn’t have the journey, which would eliminate the art. I guess the number one thing would be to cherish time with loved ones, because they won’t be there forever. It’s such a simple cliche but one that rings so true.
I start my day with…
Caffeine, OF COURSE–that’s a no brainer!
Followed by emailing, work for clients, and writing assignments.
And, then I try to engage in some form of art, whether it be journaling, editing the written work to publish, painting, sketching or graphic arts/digital material, I am always trying to hone my creativity in one way or another. It’s so important to keep the brain active in this way, otherwise I feel it can almost expire or whither away!
If you could invite any woman to dinner, who would it be?
Alive? Hillary Clinton (I am fascinated by her intellect) or singer Lana Del Rey because she is my girl-crush. Ha! Talk about a contrast. Dead? Anais Nin, or Marilyn Monroe, which again contrast each other quite nicely. And, bizarrely. 😉
Best advice you have received?
Most recently?–from you Missy B. Salick. You said to “self-publish because I’d already done or could handle 90% of the leg-work,” and I realized publishing through my own creative services site was a fantastic idea, so thank you. I adore you, and I’m so glad to have you in my life, as a co-creative and friend. Knowing you is inspirational, you are beautiful, talented, kind, and blessed.
In reference to life in general, the best life advice I’ve received was really from the things I’ve read:
“Do the the thing you least want–the thing that scares you most.”–Chuck Palahniuk’s “Invisible Monsters.”
Anais Nin & Nietzsche: “turn your life into a work of art.”
And, the great psychoanalyst–Otto Rank: “Don’t be a neurotic, free yourself and win the war over creative despair.”
Life motto you live by?
Re-create the world by engaging creatively in whatever it is that you do. If you are a housewife–be the most creative housewife and mother you can be! If you are a maid–instill creativity in your work. Same with anything–just be creative & think outside the box, and you will enjoy the things you do so much more passionately.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XB77h2YnKY
